Six Flags Great Adventure's "El Toro" finished its steady climb to the top in 2011, finishing alone at #1
for the first time. "El Toro" debuted at #3 in 2006, finished 2nd for the next three years and then tied for #1 in 2010.
"El Toro" had no close comparisons among mutual riders this year, beating #2 "T Express" 14 to 8,
#3 "Boulder Dash" 98 to 70, and doubling #4 "The Voyage" 101 to 56.
The four new for 2011 coasters all did very well in the poll. Knight Valley of China's aptly named "Wood Coaster"
would have finished #2 this year but had only 8 riders take the poll (12 were required this year). Of the five riders who
had also ridden "El Toro", four of them preferred "Wood Coaster".
Grona Lund's "Twister" debuted at #14 in the world, Quassy's "Wooden Warrior" debuted at #18, and Bay Beach's
new incarnation of the "Zippin Pippin" debuted at #38.
#2 "T Express" lost only to "El Toro" among mutual riders. It is the fourth straight year in the top three for the
Korean ride.
"Boulder Dash" is ranked #3 for the second straight year, losing mutual-rider comparisons only to #'s 1 and 2.
Three-time #1 "The Voyage" is #4 in 2011. "The Voyage" won the mutual-rider comparison tie-breaker over #5 "Phoenix"
by an 84 to 67 margin.
Waldameer's "Ravine Flyer II" remained solid at #6 in the world.
Freizeitpark Plohn's version of "El Toro" continued its climb up the rankings to a best ever #7 in its third year.
Perennial favorite "Balder" was knocked down a position to #8 this year, losing the mutual-rider comparison to #7 "El Toro"
13 to 9.
Toverland's 'Troy' is #9 this year and Heide Park's "Colossos" finished 10th.
Special thanks to the 666 people who took the time to participate in the 2011 poll (all 666 ballots)
and more than two dozen great roller coaster sites that linked to the poll.
Holiday World is again the park with the top wooden coaster duo (#4 The Voyage, #17 Raven),
and trio (including #39 The Legend).
At the other end of the poll, Walygator Parc's "Anaconda" repeated at the bottom this year, and three other
coasters fell below California's "Grizzly" (which had finished at the bottom for 15 straight years before 2010).
The following chart shows the mutual-rider comparisons for the top 13 coasters. Preferences are listed
for the people who rode each pair of coasters. The chart should be read from left to right along the line for
each of the top coasters listed at the left. For instance, it can be seen that El Toro was preferred to #3 Boulder Dash
98 to 70.
See the link to the full 165x165 mutual rider comparison spreadsheet below.
The "Favorite Steel" coaster would have placed #1 if it were included in the final results.
INACTIVE LINKS BELOW WILL BECOME ACTIVE AS THEY ARE COMPLETED IN THE COMING WEEKS:

Ordered by this year's results for all 180+ coasters with results dating back to 1994 also listed on the same line,
this chart is the best way to see trends and consistencies in each roller coaster's ranking over the years.